Jagmeet Singh Opens Up About 'No Justice' Served In Colten Boushie Case

The NDP leader said there are "serious problems" that need to be addressed.

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is standing by his statement that there has been "no justice" for Colten Boushie, the 22-year-old Indigenous man who was shot to death by a white Saskatchewan farmer in 2016.

But Singh told reporters Tuesday that he is not yet calling for an end to peremptory challenges, the controversial court practice that saw Indigenous people rejected from the jury that acquitted Gerald Stanley of second-degree murder.

Handout/The Canadian Press
Colten Boushie is shown in an undated handout photo. The 22 year old died after being shot in the back of the head on the Stanley family's farm in August 2016.

Singh, a former criminal defence lawyer, also said that he used peremptory challenges in his previous work to ensure greater diversity on juries.

At a press conference in Ottawa, Singh was asked about a tweet he sent after Stanley, 56, was found not guilty Friday. Stanley admitted to causing Boushie's death but said at trial it was an accident.

Indigenous youth had "again been told that their lives have less value," Singh tweeted.

There was no justice for Colten Boushie. Already Indigenous youth live with little hope for their future & today they have again been told that their lives have less value. We must confront the legacy of colonialism & genocide so They can see a brighter future for themselves.

Asked Tuesday about where he draws the line between commenting on a situation and meddling in legal cases, Singh replied in French: "What I said is that we didn't have justice for Colten Boushie and that's clear."

Singh said that the lack of Indigenous representation on juries is a problem that must be confronted.

The rejection of Indigenous candidates by the defence has contributed to the outrage many Canadians are feeling now about the verdict.

"We have a young Indigenous man that was killed and this is a result of ... some underlying, serious problems we need to address as a society," Singh said later when asked what, if anything, needs to change in the judicial system.

In Ottawa, approximately 50 people rallied by the steps of Parliament Hill on Saturday. Singers and drummers were drowned out by the sound of the noon bells ringing from the Peace Tower — and Shania Twain — blaring from speakers at the nearby Canada 150 skating rink.

"I came out today because I was pretty pissed," Connor McNamara told HuffPost Canada. McNamara is Metis from Penetanguishene, Ont. "I figured this would be a good way to calm down and discuss with people."

He shared his frustrations with people outside Saskatchewan who are writing off the Stanley verdict as symptomatic of a systemic problem exclusive to the Prairies.